‘I was just lying to you guys,’ he said after Game 7. ‘When you’re in the moment you have to suppress that because if you get caught up in the hype of it all, you don’t really play your best basketball.’

Now that Bryant and the Lakers have won the trophy, there is no hiding his feelings.

The Lakers recently appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in celebration of their victory. When asked if he talks to or is friendly with any of the Celtics, Bryant quickly replied: ‘No.’